Paul, Sorry, you did respond to the initial post but you may have missed the second one which I posted as "Question". It's all good, no problemo. Posted more or less to see if anyone is alive out there and has any ideas about their consciousness.

Marty,
I too have been away for awhile. Been back from Ecuador for some time. Currently back in Florida after a few months in Durham NC. Found out that I have an infection in my knee that has an implant. I should say had an implant as it had to come out. So now I'm on antibiotics and we'll see (in a few more weeks) if it is free of infection then I'll get a new total knee. very time consuming, in the mean time I don't have any parts in my knee, just two lumps of bone cement impregnated with antibiotics. Linda is helping me since I can't get around very well. Hope all is well and warm....

Yes, I did spend close to two months at Gaia Sagrada. I went to teach Reiki to a few who were there at the time. The facilities were very nice and since there were only a few there at the time, I had a double room to myself. Trips into Cuenca were fun and and had the opportunity to experience the food and culture of Ecuador. The only draw back was the distance from the center into town. I posted some pictures on the UMS Metaphysical Connection site. The site can be found on the Socials & Events tab on the UMS web page. The food was all vegetarian and while I'm not a vegetarian, I did some of the cooking and we had some good dishes. When the mood struck for meat (not often) had chicken or fish in Cuenca.

Over all it was a good experience. However now it seems that the objective at Gaia Sagrada has changed. Now they are more into Ayahuasca and San Pedro spirit plants. I love metaphysics and spiritual studies but Hallucinogenics are not really my thing.

Yes I am hesitant about the value of hallucinogens and psychotropics ...

My thought is that they can be 'acceptable' if part of one's cultural context, but only under strict and knowledgable guidance .. but ideally they are only a means to an end, though they often become the end in themselves, and should be discarded. Hence, Castaneda's Don Juan did not refer to them much in the later books (if they are non-fiction, another question...)

I was slightly surprised - well disappointed actually - to learn that the UMS folk were getting into that (I received an e-mailing invitation about it as being on their mailing list).. and hope that they know what they are doing down their on the slopes of the Magickal Andes ... I think I e-mailed them but had no reply. Or maybe I posted on the Board, but then discarded it as it might appear negative ...

Hi, again. Rummaging through old threads to see who or what shakes out of the rafters. Good stuff here in the beginning posts for those wanting to enroll. Many of us are still around, after all these years xoxox